Ok, so *everybody* agreed to close all the seacocks, right? But do all of you *really* close *all* of them *everytime*? I take my boat out at least once a week and it would take me forever to dig under cushions and floorboards to open/clode the basic seacocks needed for a sail: raw water intake, speed/depth; etc. My question is, do people really go through the hassle to open/close every seacock everytime they go out?
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I do but...
I have an outboard so I don't have to worry about raw water intake, blah, blah, blah.
Use the head - close the valve. Use the sink - close the valve. But to give you a better idea...Rob (my guy) has a larger boat and he does indeed close each valve either after direct use or before leaving the boat. It really doesn't take that long (maaaaybe 5 minutes) and could save your boat. Seems worth the 5 minutes to me! LaDonna
I have an outboard so I don't have to worry about raw water intake, blah, blah, blah.
Use the head - close the valve. Use the sink - close the valve. But to give you a better idea...Rob (my guy) has a larger boat and he does indeed close each valve either after direct use or before leaving the boat. It really doesn't take that long (maaaaybe 5 minutes) and could save your boat. Seems worth the 5 minutes to me! LaDonnayes
We close the head through hull after each use and the sink drains and raw water intake before leaving. I got home one week and couldn't remember closing the engine through hull and drove the 35 miles bake out to check. (it was closed) Hayden Watson Papillon C30 tr/bs Spokane, WA
We close the head through hull after each use and the sink drains and raw water intake before leaving. I got home one week and couldn't remember closing the engine through hull and drove the 35 miles bake out to check. (it was closed) Hayden Watson Papillon C30 tr/bs Spokane, WA
Nope Not ME
I check out the plumbing when I'm on the boat and almost always check for (extra) water in bilge. Hey I guess that's why I have insurance Mike WD9EOU C-38 # 169
I check out the plumbing when I'm on the boat and almost always check for (extra) water in bilge. Hey I guess that's why I have insurance
Mike WD9EOU C-38 # 169All but One
I do not always close my engine intake for 2 reasons, 1 Getting to it is a real pain 2 When we are sailing if I needed to start the engine in a hurry I do not want to be under cushions in a very out of the way place.
I do not always close my engine intake for 2 reasons, 1 Getting to it is a real pain 2 When we are sailing if I needed to start the engine in a hurry I do not want to be under cushions in a very out of the way place.
A Little Discipline, Please!
Owning and operating a larger sailboat with systems more complicated than a Portapotty requires some discipline and time. That's the Captain's job! It's very similar to owning and operating an airplane. Any pilot worth his ticket (I'm not a pilot) has and uses pre-flight, take off, landing, etc., checklists to be sure he/she hasn't missed anything. Whether you commit it to writing or your mind (almost said head...), closing those 4-5 seacocks when anchoring or tying up is just part of the thrill and drill! I ALWAYS close the seacocks when I'm closing up. Closing them while underway seems to be a bit too cautious. In the event of heavy weather with following seas, it may also be advisable to close the engine water intake seacock if not under power to avoid flooding the engine. Sail on!
Owning and operating a larger sailboat with systems more complicated than a Portapotty requires some discipline and time. That's the Captain's job! It's very similar to owning and operating an airplane. Any pilot worth his ticket (I'm not a pilot) has and uses pre-flight, take off, landing, etc., checklists to be sure he/she hasn't missed anything. Whether you commit it to writing or your mind (almost said head...), closing those 4-5 seacocks when anchoring or tying up is just part of the thrill and drill! I ALWAYS close the seacocks when I'm closing up. Closing them while underway seems to be a bit too cautious. In the event of heavy weather with following seas, it may also be advisable to close the engine water intake seacock if not under power to avoid flooding the engine. Sail on!
Here's my Reasoning
When on the boat I open my seacocks,if they leak/fail, I will be there to notice the problem & fix it. BUT, if I am off my boat (for more than a few hours) I close them all. Think about what would happen if a hose clamp on any one of those seacock fails & the hose pops off (or a rodent eats a hole in it, or a crack develops, etc, etc) below the waterline, your boat will SINK! Food for thought...
When on the boat I open my seacocks,if they leak/fail, I will be there to notice the problem & fix it. BUT, if I am off my boat (for more than a few hours) I close them all. Think about what would happen if a hose clamp on any one of those seacock fails & the hose pops off (or a rodent eats a hole in it, or a crack develops, etc, etc) below the waterline, your boat will SINK! Food for thought...
Agree with Discipline
I think that was well said, a larger boat takes more responsibility. The only seacock(s) I would close when underway are the head sink drain and toilet intake because I've seen them siphon and flood the head (not on my boat). There's usually a placard in the head to tell you to close those while underway. I usually leave the galley drain open while underway. But I do close them all if I leave the marina premesis, even for only a couple of hours. Roc
I think that was well said, a larger boat takes more responsibility. The only seacock(s) I would close when underway are the head sink drain and toilet intake because I've seen them siphon and flood the head (not on my boat). There's usually a placard in the head to tell you to close those while underway. I usually leave the galley drain open while underway. But I do close them all if I leave the marina premesis, even for only a couple of hours. Roc
!@#$%^ Plastic Sea Cocks
I would love to close those !@#$%^& things if they would co-operate. However, they tend to break in whichever position they happen to be in when one tries to change the state. I've changed two of them--after properly lubricating them of course--and they still stick. The fountain is not too high between the old one off and the new one on, but it is sort of nerve racking for a little while. I can only do it when my wife is not on board. All this has been said to say, "NO! I do not always close all sea cocks". Next year with new bronze sea cocks. I am a pilot, and do use check lists. I also made one for the opening, engine starting, getting underway, tying up and closing down, but they do not all always get fully checked off. We do our best, then in God we trust.
I would love to close those !@#$%^& things if they would co-operate. However, they tend to break in whichever position they happen to be in when one tries to change the state. I've changed two of them--after properly lubricating them of course--and they still stick. The fountain is not too high between the old one off and the new one on, but it is sort of nerve racking for a little while. I can only do it when my wife is not on board. All this has been said to say, "NO! I do not always close all sea cocks". Next year with new bronze sea cocks. I am a pilot, and do use check lists. I also made one for the opening, engine starting, getting underway, tying up and closing down, but they do not all always get fully checked off. We do our best, then in God we trust.
Yes
I always close all of them when leaving the boat. I usually only open the head seacock when in use. I've had the head flipper lever left open which filled the head with water and could have created a mess if I hadn't been at anchor. On an overnight anchor I usually leave the galley sink valve and the engine intake valve open unless I was leaving the boat in the dinghy. One trick that helps with remembering to open and close the engine water intake valve is to hang your engine key on the closed valve handle when leaving the boat. By the way, why would you have a seacock for speed and depth?
I always close all of them when leaving the boat. I usually only open the head seacock when in use. I've had the head flipper lever left open which filled the head with water and could have created a mess if I hadn't been at anchor. On an overnight anchor I usually leave the galley sink valve and the engine intake valve open unless I was leaving the boat in the dinghy. One trick that helps with remembering to open and close the engine water intake valve is to hang your engine key on the closed valve handle when leaving the boat. By the way, why would you have a seacock for speed and depth?
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